Backyard Camping:
Our Simple Vacation Alternative
My husband and I did NOT grow up camping like some people. We also rarely went on family vacations. I did not want that to be the case with my children. We cannot afford to go on vacations away with our current budget, so we bought a tent last Summer to camp in the backyard. The big kids stayed out but the entire family has not.
This Summer I am very pregnant due mid-August and not quite sure about camping even though I really, really want to. We bought an air mattress that is very comfortable and I have laid out during the day a couple of times. I am now getting up quite a bit to go potty and not sure if I could make the trek inside safely or quick enough at this time.
We have a firepit in the backyard and we also add extra lights for the kids via rope light and some candles. I want to try some camping recipes and pie iron recipes as well. I think keeping the heat outside will be a good thing this Summer plus we can practice for a REAL CAMPOUT away from home for next year.
I realize next year we will need a bigger tent (which we can borrow) or possibly a 2nd tent for all the extra baby gear we will need. So one big tent to sleep in and one to house clothes and extra supplies.
We only keep the tent up for 2-4 days at a time so the grass doesn’t die and earwigs do not take up residence in the tent pole openings. This also allows for the novelty of camping to stay fun and exciting. We also need to keep the grass mowed to keep the bugs and mosquitoes down.
Check out more Summer Ideas:
100 Budget Friendly Summer Activities
What a wonderful idea. My family went camping every summer but we never got tired of setting the tent up in our backyard as well. If you get lots of nice coals in your fire pit you can wrap water soaked, un-husked corn in aluminum foil and bake them in the coals for about forty minutes. The corn will pretty much steam cook.Another favorite camp recipe is to get an aluminum cake pan and layer ham, slice potatoes (salted and peppered, carrots and onions, and cabbage. Keep repeating this until you get to the top. You can add a bit of sprinkled water on each layer of cabbage leaves to help it steam. Then cover the top with aluminum foil and place in hot coals for about forty five minutes. Have a great summer!